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The Circle Series: The Visual Edition of Black, Red, and White by Ted Dekker
The Circles Series
Pages: 416
Ages: 14+
First Published: Dec. 29 2009
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:
One of the benefits of the last shift at the Java Hut: free caffeine …
Acquired: Received a review copy from Thomas Nelson.
Reason for Reading: This is a Cybils ‘10 nominee [...]

Lucy Unstrung by Carole Lazar
Pages: 235
Ages: 12+
First Published: Aug. 10, 2010
Publisher: Tundra Books
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:
When my mom finally walks in the door at nine-fifteen, she acts like nothing’s wrong at all.
Acquired: Received a review copy from the Tundra Books.
Reason for Reading: I was intrigued by the Catholic nature of the main character and whether it [...]

The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan. Illustrated by Peter Sis
Pages: 372
Ages: 9+
First Published: Apr. 1, 2010
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Rating: 4/5
First sentence:
On a continent of many songs, in a country shaped like the arm of a tall guitarrista, the rain drummed down on the town of Temuco.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Scholastic Canada.
Reason for Reading: [...]

Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom by Susin Nielsen
Pages: 229
Ages: 10+
First Published: Aug. 10, 2010
Publisher: Tundra Books
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:
For the record: I did not mean to send my two half sisters to the emergency room.
Acquired: Won a review copy from Library Thing’s Early Reviewer Program.
Reason for Reading: I am fond of the publisher, [...]

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
Pages: 335
First Published: Oct. 5, 2010
Publisher: William Morrow
Rating: 4/5
First sentence:
The Rutherford girl had been missing for eight days when Larry Ott returned home and found a monster waiting in his house.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Harper Collins Canada.
Reason for Reading: I love southern fiction and am always intrigued [...]

Maps and Shadows by Krysia Jopek
Pages: 151
First Published: Dec. 16, 2010
Publisher: Aquila Polonica
Rating: 4/5
First sentence:
Everyone has a story.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Aquila Polonica.
Reason for Reading: I enjoy memoirs of the war (even fictionalized) and I particularly like WWII books which introduce me to new information that is not so widely known.
This is a [...]

Heart of Glass by Vivian French. Illustrated by Ross Collin
The Third Tale from the Five Kingdoms
Pages: 244 pages
Ages: 8+
First Published: July 13, 2010
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Rating: 3.5/5
First sentence:
“If I were you, kiddo,” the bat remarked, “I’d close your mouth.”
Acquired: Received a review copy from Candlewick Press.
Reason for Reading: Next in the series
This is another series I [...]

End of Days by Max Turner
Night Runner, #2
Pages: 318
Ages: 13+
First Published: Aug. 16, 2010 CAN (Sept. 28, 2010 US)
Publisher: Harper Trophy Canada
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:
I’m told vampires are popular in books these days.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Harper Collins Canada.
Reason for Reading: Next in the series.
That a sequel to Night Runner was coming out [...]

Bad Boy by Peter Robinson
Inspector Banks, #19
Pages: 336 pages
First Published: Aug. 24, 2010 US (Sept. 14, 2010 CAN)
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
Genre: mystery, British police procedural
Rating: 3.5/5
First sentence:
By the end of August, the waterlogged Yorkshire countryside was a symphony of green and gold under a blue sky scribbled with white clouds.
Acquired: Received a review [...]

Dust City by Robert Paul Weston
Pages: 299
Ages: 13+
First Published: (Sept. 30, 2010 USA) Oct. 5, 2010 CAN
Publisher: Puffin Canada
Genre: YA, urban fantasy, fairy tales
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:
Once upon a time, fairydust came from where you’d expect. From fairies.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Penguin Group (Canada).
Reason for Reading: I’m a big fan of books with [...]

Spider Bones by Kathy Reich

Temperance Brennan, #13
Pages: 306
First Published: Aug. 24, 2010
Publisher: Scribner
Rating: 4.5/5
First sentence:
The air smelled of sun-warmed bark and apple buds raring to blossom and get on with life.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Simon & Schuster Canada.
Reason for Reading: Next in the series.
Kathy Reichs is in top form with this latest [...]

Wayfarer by R.J. Anderson
Faery Realms, #2
Pages: 296
Ages: 12+
First Published: June 22, 2010
Publisher: Harper Teen
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:
The Queen is dying.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Harper Collins Canada.
Reason for Reading: Next in the series.
Wayfarer continues the story started in Spell Hunter (Knife UK). The publisher has upgraded the recommended age range to YA which [...]

I’d Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
Pages: 373
First Published: Aug. 17, 2010
Publisher: William Morrow
Rating: 4/5
First sentence:
“Iso, time for -”
Acquired: Received a review copy from Harper Collins Canada.
Reason for Reading: I’ve read one of Lippman’s series books and it was ok but I love her standalones and read each new one as it [...]

A Little Death in Dixie by Lisa Turner
Pages: 298
First Published: Jun. 4, 2010
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books
Rating: 4/5
First sentence:
Cops like me won’t admit it out loud, but a lot of us believe murder has its right time and proper reason.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Bell Bridge Books.
Reason for Reading: I love Southern fiction and am [...]